Human sex trafficking is a hidden menace in our society. I believe most of us (except those who participate) have no clue of the breadth and depth by which it has embedded itself. It is a multi-billion dollar, global industry. For it to be global means, among other things, that people of significant power are engaged. This article highlights its sinister nature of trafficking on the ground. I cannot imagine the level of depravity of those at the top of the industry. We need to raise awareness in our communities.

David Moore pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two charges related to sex trafficking. Moore, 47, also known as “King David,” and Paul Carter, 45, known as “Pimpin’ Paul,” were indicted once before a federal grand jury issued another indictment last year with more charges, including conspiracy, sex trafficking of adults and minors, and related offenses spanning from the years 2007 to 2013.

Federal court documents outline how Moore and Carter met, as well as how Moore’s son became involved in sex trafficking.

According to those records:

Moore and Carter met in 2004, when Carter tried to persuade a woman being prostituted by Moore to work for him instead. Moore confronted Carter and threatened to fight him, but Carter backed down.

When Moore was released from prison in 2006, the two established a friendly relationship.

Prosecutors say the two would drive on the streets of Milwaukee on an almost daily basis to try to recruit young women to work for them through force, fraud or coercion. They would compete to recruit new victims and even would critique each other’s approach to luring potential victims into the sex trade.

Moore told authorities he frequently visited the Milwaukee “tracks”— areas well-known for prostitution — with Carter to “troll for victims” and to monitor the women working for Carter, according to Moore’s plea agreement.

He also would accompany Carter to the Greyhound Bus station in Milwaukee and saw Carter pick up young women who were under Carter’s control. The women were returned from out-of-town engagements for dancing and prostitution and would turn over cash to Carter, saying “Here, Daddy.”

Carter was known as a “gorilla pimp,” meaning he frequently used violence, force and other means of coercion to keep his victims working as erotic dancers and prostitutes.

‘Pimp Roundtables’

Federal records also detailed how Carter’s violent actions were sometimes the subject of the “Pimp Roundtables,” which he and Moore attended. Other pimps who engaged in sex and labor trafficking also attended the meetings and discussed methods to pressure pimps who were not following accepted norms — such as fighting among pimps or excessive violence against trafficking victims — to correct their behavior.

According to court documents:

Moore told investigators about witnessing Carter’s violence numerous times, including once when Carter punched a woman repeatedly for perceived disrespect and then continued to beat her with a dresser drawer. Moore told officials he did not intervene to stop the beating.

Another time, Moore was with Carter at a bar and saw Carter force a trafficking victim to get on her hands and knees and bark like a dog as “punishment” for having accepted a drink from another man, according to court documents.

Moore told Carter he should use less violence and instead use other strategies to persuade his victims to stay with him.

Moore pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking with Carter and pleaded guilty to a second charge of trafficking his son’s teenage girlfriend.

Moore’s son and his girlfriend were living with Moore in 2008. The girl, then 16, was coerced into strip club dancing and prostitution, and later told investigators she saw Moore instructing his son on how to be a pimp.

The girl told authorities that after her fake ID was discovered and she was banned from strip clubs for being underage, she was taken to taverns and expected to generate three “dates” per night, and earn at least $450 or be beaten.